These topics will change from time to time so be sure to check back from time to time to see the topics
discussed and to see comments from your colleagues

Draft Guidelines for a Botanical Art Curriculum. The focus for discussion at the Educators’ forum held at the 2005 American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA) Annual Conference at Minneapolis was the preparation of guidelines for instructional programming in botanical art. The idea attracted positive comments from the majority of teachers present who were keen to see the concept progress. The guidelines would create a benchmark so organizations offering courses that were compatible with the guidelines could use this as part of their promotional material. Students would receive basic instruction in a set of core subjects that would enable their newly gained skills to be widely recognized and to be better prepared for undertaking intermediate and advanced classes and workshops anywhere where these guidelines are recognized.
The first (draft guidelines forbotanical drawing) in a series of guidelines is now being considered by the ASBA education subcommittee. Guidelines for working with color will follow. When completed there would be publication of guidelines for a drawing and painting curriculum up to and including the intermediate level. Although these are being drafted in the specific context of ASBA guidelines, I would appreciate comments or contributions of further information from educators and students of botanical art everywhere.

"Are We Artists?" Article published in the newsletter of the American Soc. Botanical Artists (ASBA) No.19
- Spring 2000. Written in response to a letter in the previous ASBA newsletter this article seeks to
promote discussion about (1) whether botanical art can be viewed as art and (2) defining “botanical
illustration” as a branch of botanical art that is created in the service of science.

"Exhibition Guidelines" Discussion paper re selection of works for botanical art exhibitions. First
circulated in 2003 to those committee members involved with the American Society of Botanical Artists
exhibitions. This paper has since been revised so it addresses all botanical art organizations.
Comments and discussion by all interested botanical artists are sought with a view to assisting their
exhibition committees to establish a credible selection process for botanical art exhibitions.

"Standards for Botanical Artists" Article published in the newsletter of the American Soc. Botanical Artists
(ASBA) No.32 - Summer 2004. This article sets out how the establishment of core criteria can aid the
establishment of standards for botanical art. The article proposes this concept could be applied to the
process for selection of artwork in ASBA exhibitions and provides an example of how such standards
can be successfully implemented to establish a teaching program.